#Nerd

She arched her back into my side and pressed her ample breasts against me. “With pleasure,” she purred.

She had a dark-haired friend standing just behind her. I glanced up and gave her my charming smile. She stepped forward.

“Go make out with my buddy Braeden,” I told her. “He needs some good luck for tomorrow night’s game.”

She giggled and rushed over to where Braeden was standing and threw her arms around his neck. He barely had time to look down before she was locking onto his lips.

“C’mon,” I said and led Boots over to the truck she’d been dancing on. I lifted her up onto the tailgate, then hopped in beside her. Several other couples were up there already, making out, and I leaned back against the side as she straddled my lap and sat down.

Her lips tasted like beer and she was a little too eager. Three seconds into the kiss and she started grinding herself against me. I grabbed onto her hips and let her go for a ride. I barely had to make an effort because she was doing enough for both of us.

Her fingers went through my hair and her hands roamed everywhere she could reach. It wasn’t the worst kiss I’d ever had, but it sure as hell wasn’t the best. Some girls were just too eager to turn me on and it worked against them.

I don’t know how long we made out, but I was starting to get bored when a deep voice spoke beside us.

“You gonna come up for air, man?”

I pulled the girl away and looked at Trent. Without any effort, I lifted Boots off my lap and sat her aside. “Thanks for the fun,” I said and hopped down out of the truck.

I heard her irritated huff as I walked away with Trent, but I didn’t bother looking back. “Dude, thanks for the save. She kissed like a dead fish.”

Trent grinned and handed me his beer.

I took it gladly.

“Hey, I never did get to say thanks for the other night,” I said quietly.

“We’re Wolves,” he said with a shrug. It was that simple. It always would be.

“You get in trouble?” I asked him.

“Nah.” He shoved his hands into his front pockets and stared out over the fire.

I knew he had something to say so I waited for him to say it.

“I normally wouldn’t do this.” He began, still not looking my way. I sipped the beer. “But…”

“We’re Wolves,” I repeated.

“Yeah, we are. And you’re a decent guy. But you didn’t hear this from me.”

“Hear what?” I echoed.

A ghost of a smile played on his lips before we both turned back to look out over the crowd.

“Zach doesn’t like you, Romeo. In fact, I think he might hate you.”

“I kind of got that the other night.”

“He doesn’t want you in Omega. He managed to keep you out last year, but he couldn’t this year, not without getting backlash.”

So that was why I didn’t get rushed last year.

Son of a bitch.

“I can handle him,” I said, my voice dropping because I was angry.

Trent glanced at me. “He’s gonna make it hard on you. He wants you to fail. He’s taken to selecting your challenges personally, and I can guarantee they aren’t gonna be easy.”

My spine stiffened and my jaw hardened with resolve. “Bring it.”

Trent nodded. “Figured you say that.”

“You know I can’t run,” I said. I wasn’t built that way.

“Yeah, I know. You made a name for yourself freshman year. No one does that. Zach knows it too. He wants to knock you down a couple pegs.”

“Thanks for the heads-up, man.” I held out my fist and he pounded his to mine.

“I’ll help you as much as I can…” His voice trailed away.

“Don’t get yourself on Zach’s bad side. I got this.”

“Yo, Barnes!” Trent hollered, and the team running back turned from the keg and looked our way. “Pour me one!”

Trent looked back at me before walking away. “I’ve never seen a guy get off so easy for kissing another dude like that.”

I grinned and held up the SOLO cup. “Don’t ya know? Too much beer always brings out the brotherly love.”

Trent laughed. “Nice play,” he commented and then went to get his beer.

Braeden was still getting hot and heavy with the dark-headed girl, so I went back to the crowd to party.

I wondered what else Zach was gonna pull on me during rush. What he didn’t know was I might smile and charm everyone, but I didn’t get my rep by being pushed around. I didn’t back down. Not ever.

And I sure as hell wasn’t about to start now.

Chapter Nine

Rimmel

I was dead asleep when my phone rang. It cut into my bliss like a chainsaw through a Christmas tree farm. I didn’t bother to lift my head; instead, I flung out my arm and moved my hand around until it landed on the cell.

“Hello?” I said drowsily into the line.

I got another loud ring as response.

I winced and pulled it away from my ear and looked at the screen, making sure to hit the answer button this time.

“Yeah?” I said and collapsed back onto my pillow.

“Rimmel?” A familiar voice cut into my half sleep. It was Ivy.

“Please tell me you aren’t drunk.” I groaned.

She giggled, and I rolled my eyes. “Would you mind coming to get us? Our ride is passed out beneath a tree.”

I should tell her to walk back to the dorm. Maybe next time she’d think twice about getting so drunk. I glanced at the clock on the table near the bed. It was after two a.m. “Fine,” I muttered and threw off the covers.

Chilly night air brushed against my legs and I shivered. “You owe me,” I muttered.

“See you in a few!” she slurred, and then the line went dead.

I pulled on a pair of sweats, the first pair my hand closed around in the drawer. They were too long and too big, but I didn’t bother changing. I just tied the drawstring a little tighter. I rummaged around and found a hoodie and pulled it over the tank top I’d gone to bed in. Once I jammed my feet in some shoes, I fished around Ivy’s desk for her car keys.

I didn’t have a car, just my scooter, and I didn’t think Ivy would appreciate being picked up on it. This wasn’t the first time I’d had to go retrieve her from a party. She didn’t call very often, but when she did, I always went and got her. We weren’t exactly friends, but she was the closest thing I had to one. Besides, I couldn’t let her wander around out in the dark, drunk. If something happened to her, I’d never forgive myself for not going.